New Lake Co. solid waste chair: No more unproven trash proposals

The Lake County solid waste board should steer clear of commercially unproven processes when considering future plans for consolidating the county's trash disposal, the board's chairman said.

Plan capping Calumet Twp. spending headed to governor

INDIANAPOLIS | It took six years of explaining, arguing and working around legislative roadblocks, but Griffith is now just a few pen strokes away from having a path to exit Calumet Township.

Griffith a great place to live, work or visit

There are a number of things that make Griffith a great place to live, work or visit.

Trash-to-ethanol debate pauses until after election

Some Lake County Republican officials are crying foul over the cancellation of last week's solid waste district meeting, dubbing it a possible political ploy to push a discussion past the general election.

Powers given another month in quest for trash-to-ethanol plant financing

Powers Energy of America remained in breach of contract with Lake County's solid waste board but was given another month to try to prove it can finance its long proposed trash-to-ethanol plant.

Powers passes 1st benchmark

Lake County's trash-to-ethanol saga will continue — at least another 30 days — after solid waste district officials decided developer Earl Powers satisfied two benchmarks toward filling a perceived breach in his contract.

Critics: Plant deal, not apology, needed

More than two months after would-be trash-to-ethanol developer Earl Powers walked out on a meeting with Lake County solid waste officials, he has issued a letter of apology.

Powers has up to 90 more days to show trash-to-ethanol viability

Lake County's more than 3-year trash-to-ethanol saga was extended for at least another 30 and as many as 90 days Thursday after waste officials gave a developer more time to prove the venture viable.

Republican caucus chooses new Griffith councilman

GRIFFITH | Republicans unanimously elected Larry Ballah on Monday to serve on the Town Council.

Board to Langbehn: Draft plan to rein in credit card expenses

CROWN POINT | The executive director of Lake County's solid waste district — criticized by some of his elected bosses and a state audit for past credit card expenditures — will have an opportunity to recommend changes to the district's policy for plastic.

EDITORIAL: Cut waste at solid waste agency

For solid waste, the three R's are reduce, reuse and recycle. The Lake County Solid Waste Management District Board needs to key in on reducing — as in reducing wasteful spending — when it meets Thursday.

Tighter leash could be in store for solid waste district

The staff of Lake County's solid waste district soon may have a shorter, tighter leash for both spending and lobbying, according to the district's new board leadership.

Griffith gets new clerk-treasurer

GRIFFITH | A Town Council member is trading his seat for the clerk-treasurer's chair.

Griffith focusing on business

Bolstering existing businesses and attracting new enterprises remain major focuses for Griffith. So does transforming the downtown into a walkable, "people-oriented" community.

EDITORIAL: Agency has wasted time, wasted money

The Lake County Solid Waste Management District's board seems determined to change directions -- finally -- and put the trash-to-ethanol proposal in the trash where it belongs.

As time passes, so does faith in trash-to-ethanol plan, some waste officials

As time began to run out on Lake County's trash-to-ethanol plan last week, so did the faith and confidence of solid waste district officials - both in the project and themselves.

As time passes, so does faith in trash-to-ethanol plan, some waste officials

As time began to run out on Lake County's trash-to-ethanol plan last week, so did the faith and confidence of solid waste district officials — both in the project and themselves.

Waste district board members, director doubt trash-to-ethanol financing plan

Champions and opponents of Lake County's trash-to-ethanol proposal expressed a lack of confidence Wednesday in the ability of a purported hedge fund manager to finance the controversial project.

EDITORIAL: Township should have taken Griffith's buyout

It's a sad commentary on government wastefulness when a municipality — burdened by an expensive and unnecessary layer of government in a time of fiscal squalor — takes the desperate act of trying to buy its way out of the waste with a $6 million offer.

Solid waste board member chastises retirement benefits proposal as 'greedy'

"Greedy" and "excessive" are among words used by some members of the Lake County solid waste management district board to describe a retirement plan proposed for district employees.